SAN FRANCISCO, July 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans are eschewing cable and satellite service in favor of a variety of "Over The Top" video options according to a new survey that shows nearly half of consumers already using streaming video service such as Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime and Hulu.

The Zogby Analytics survey commissioned by CALinnovates, a technology advocacy coalition that serves as a bridge between thriving technology communities and policymakers in Sacramento and Washington, found that "cord cutter" platform adoption is already widespread, and that fewer than half of Americans believe that cable and satellite TV service as we know it will remain widespread in 2020.

Cord cutting, the act of utilizing digital distribution platforms over or in addition to cable or satellite services, is growing as new services emerge and wireless broadband enables consumers to watch what, where and when they want.

The survey found a clear trend towards streaming alternatives:

44% of consumers are already accessing movies and television via "cord cutters." That includes 57% of consumers between the ages of 18-29, and 63% of parents with a child under 17.

Only 42.5% of consumers believe that cable or satellite TV service will remain in wide use in 2020. Among women, the figure drops to 37%.

Just 37% of consumers between the ages of 18-24 plan to continue to subscribe to cable or satellite TV service.

A mere 28% of consumers between the ages of 18-24 plan to continue to watch their favorite shows live using satellite or cable.

"It's no longer accurate to simply say that streaming video is the future of entertainment, because the future is now," said CALinnovates Executive Director Mike Montgomery. "That is why policymakers need to understand that Americans are rapidly adopting these technologies, and that regulations must enable this next generation of technology to flourish and innovate."

The issue was discussed today at a breakfast event presented by the Churchill Club in Palo Alto, co-presented by CALinnovates, entitled The Future Will Not be Televised: The Rise of Over-the-Top (OTT.)

The research, conducted from March 3-6 by Zogby Analytics, surveyed over 2,100 Americans. The margin of error is +/- 2.1 percentage points.

ABOUT CALINNOVATESCALinnovates represents companies across the Golden State that are improving industries and expanding economic opportunities for Californians through innovative technologies. CALinnovates' members include C-level executives, political leaders, entrepreneurs, technologists and Californian consumers. For more information, please visit http://www.calinnovates.org/